Breath

One of my absolute most favorite things in the whole entire world is breath. Not bad breath or stinky morning breath! Ewwww.... But I have three that just do something to me down to the depths of my soul. They make me smile, make me feel good, make me happy when I am sad, make me feel safe and secure, make me feel like I do belong in this big ole world and give me a sense of acceptance. (At this point I'm sure you are beginning to understand where Kristina gets all her drama queen-ness from!)

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One particular smell comes in an unusual package. It has a little tail waving back and forth in the air while it runs up to me, tripping along the way. As I scoop him up and hold him nose to nose with myself I smell it...my third favorite smell....puppy breath! Oh to pick up a puppy and snuggle it close to my face and feel that hot breath breathe on my face is like heaven to me. Puppies have a distinct smell on their breath that is intoxicating to me. If you are trying to get rid of a puppy you just call me because once they breathe in my face it is over. I want to take them home. Now, once that puppy breath wears off I'm done but there is just something about it.

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As much as I love puppies breath I can't even begin to explain my love for the precious feel and smell of a baby's breath. To hold that precious, innocent, pure bundle in my arms is overwhelming. It doesn't matter if it is mine or someone elses. I love to place the baby on my chest with her head resting on my shoulder and her face pointing towards mine and just watch her sleep. As she sleeps she begins to breathe out of her mouth and that it when it hits me. That sweet precious breath. I sense hope, love, patience, kindness, joy and little bit of confidence in that breath. They have just victoriously gone through the biggest struggle of their life so far, birth. Oh a baby's breath....that is my second favorite smell.

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But, last but not least is my ultimate favorite smell. I say this is a smell but it is more or less a feeling that I can only feel through my nose. Strange? Probably. As my hair blows I can feel my eyelashes moving back and forth. It is as if there is a feeling of something softly touching my face and as I breathe in the biggest breath that I can possibly take I smell it...the breath of Jesus. It doesn't matter if I'm standing on a beach, going down the road or simply standing in my yard I love the smell of the wind. To me when I feel the wind blowing on my face it is as if Jesus is simply looking down talking to me and I can feel and smell his breath as he talks. I close my eyes and I can hear birds singing, children laughing, and the world at that brief moment is at peace. Oh, the breath of Jesus. That is my favorite smell!!

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When we are standing on the beach watching the ocean waves crash at our feet, he is there holding our hands and breathing on our faces. When we are sitting in the bleachers at our child's ball game, he is right there with us, holding our hands breathing on our faces. When we are standing in that hospital room watching our loved one, he is standing right there holding our hands breathing on our faces. When we are on our knees crying out to him, he is right there holding our hands breathing on our faces. How do I know? How am I so sure? Because he says so in Matthew 28:20 "...I am with you always..."